The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-05-19


The Debt Conference has proven dreary
farce. The representatives of the Eng
fish bondkolders return to their principals
empty handed, and the Legislature deyctes
itself to the enactment OF obstructive |
measures which will fall before the deci-
sions of the Supreme Court, and finally |
end in humiliating failure and useless
costs.
However sincere the desire among the |
people that a settlement might result from |
the deliberations Of the conference, it was
impossible to believe that such was the
aim of those who from first TO last engi~
neered the scheme on behalf Of the State.
Hypocrisy aud false pretence cropped out
at every stage. At the very commence
ment the want of sincerity was shown.
The English b0ndholders were formally
invited to meet the representatives OF the
State, with ayiew to reaching an under
9 andlng that would eliminate the delt
quest from politics, and end the costly
litigation that had proven so disastrous
to both parties thereto. They accepted
in good faith the invitation extended.
They selected as their agents men skilled
in monetary affairs. They armed them
with all necessary powers and sent them
hither. Upon reaching Virginia these
commissioners were met by whom ? By
the representatives OF Virginia? No. by
men who sincerely desired that the whole
question should be removed from the field
of politics and settled on business princi-
pies? No. BY financiers of recognized
ability, skilled in the negotiations of mat
tiers involving millions of dollars No,
Not one of the conditions which the bond
holders had right to expect greeted them.
Instead of the representatives Of Virginia.
they were met by committee represent
ing. with but one exception, a pOlitica
faction, that at the last measurement OF
party strength bad been repudiated by {
majority of over e 600. Instead Of mel
who sincerely desired that the debt ones
tion should be eliminated from politics
they were confronted by small-fry poiiti
clans seeking to make party capital. Ih'
very composition of the State committee
evidenced the purpose it was designed Il
accomplish. The Republican member
represented over one-third Of the numefi
cal strength of the Legislature, and, to sa
the least, were not the Interiors of thei
Democratic brethren. They representa-
a majority of over 10000 of the voters o
Virginia. as determined by the last elea
ton. And yet with a single exceptio
they were entirely ignored. If the Office
of the appointment of the committee wa
to represent the State, why was this Gil
tinction insisted upon? Again, the men
bers selected to constitute the committe
were not chosen with reference to thei
experience in the management of larg
interests. With the exception OF the sir
gle Republican mentioned above, the
were known solely rs politicians, and "
have yet to hear thai fer one OF them ST
perior business qualifications were eve
claimed. During the progress of the coi
ference the whole aim and object SCENE
to be to manufacture party capital. I'll
question was not how can the State be II
lieved, but how can the Democratic part
be lifted from the grave to which the il
dignant people of the State have consignt
it. Is it wonder that the so-calleG neg
tiations ended in nothing? The wond
is that the English mmssloners cor
scented to treat with them at all, after IL
deception that had been practiced. III
agents of the bondholders saw at glant
that they were not dealing with the peop
of Virginia. Instead of authorized repr
sentatiyes of the State, delegated by prop,
authority and representing her real int
ests, they were met by a committee of pa
tizans whose party the State had emphat
cally repudiated. Instead Of husne
conference, and the discussion of the ma
ter at issue, they we're invited to act sir
ply as decoys to draw the fire concentrate
10 iiu" Stit pi
ing that the result should haye been dlsa
irons failure. But the end is not We
With the election of next fall will con
the day of reckoning. A vast majority
the men of the State do want the de
question settled. They intend to have
settled. If necessary they will cast par
utilization to the wind and by united {
fort, place strong common sense busine
men in the legislative halls. and demal
that the interests of the State shall he
longer subordinated to the interests Of ia
tion. Virginia has been cursed by polit
clans. and it is time now that the peop
have chance to manage their own affair